BVWG 39

I smiled at the beautiful man before me.

“Then I’ll do as you say, Your Majesty.”

Casting aside formalities, I walked straight toward the tea table. The Emperor’s smile deepened as he watched me.

“If possible, when it’s just the two of us, call me by my name—and speak comfortably.”

“That’s still too difficult for me, Your Majesty. Once I become closer to you, perhaps then.”

With a sigh of mock resignation, the Emperor came over and personally pulled out my chair for me.

We were about to discuss something far from light conversation, which was why he had dismissed all the attendants.

I had planned to pull the chair out myself, but when the very center of the Empire personally tended to me, I was caught off guard, my cheeks warming.

The Emperor sat across from me, unbothered by my flustered state, and poured tea himself.

My gaze involuntarily lingered on the hollow of his collarbone, revealed slightly between the folds of his shirt.

Sparkle.

The platinum pendant hanging from his neck caught the sunlight. I had seen it before—did he always wear it?

For a moment, the only sound between us was the soft pour of tea from the pot. I sat frozen, clutching my cup, overwhelmed by his unexpected kindness.

What if the Emperor suddenly changes his mind and decides to demand repayment for all this kindness, in the way only the ruler of an empire could?

He was certainly a man capable of such whims. But, fortunately, he did not.

After filling his own cup, he finally looked at me.

“Relax, will you? Enjoy yourself. Try the desserts, too. The palace chef’s work is… adequate, at least.”

He smiled again—like a tiger trying gently to calm a kitten whose fur was bristling.

Strangely enough, his sincerity reached me, and the tension in my shoulders began to ease.

I turned my eyes toward the colorful desserts, reminiscent of spring blossoms, perfectly matching the garden around us. They were almost too beautiful to eat.

Still, I picked up a fork and tried a pale yellow cake that seemed to be filled with custard cream.

It turned out to be lemon cream—sweet and tart in perfect balance, melting softly on my tongue.

It paired wonderfully with the citrus-scented black tea.

Without realizing it, a contented smile crept across my lips.

The Emperor still watched me, the way one might watch a small, curious kitten.

He took a fork himself, sampling his dessert before speaking slowly.

“Now then, Lady—tell me in detail about what happened with Lady Charlier at the ball.”

He must have already received reports from his officials, of course.

But since this was the first time we’d spoken since he awoke, I briefly summarized the situation and then showed him the bracelet I had brought from Dalia.

“This is the orb you obtained that night?”

He gazed at the small black sphere attached to the bracelet’s cord. Even now, it pulsed faintly with an emptiness that felt like the void of space itself. I nodded.

“Do you know what it is?”

“I have a vague idea, but I don’t know what kind of power it holds.”

I couldn’t very well tell the Emperor about my conversation with a demon, so I gave a vague answer.

“It’s the core of a high-level Incubo.”

I was startled that he knew.

Then again, it would be strange if the Emperor, who had ruled the Empire for so long, didn’t know about such beings.

“I’ve heard of it before, but this is the first time I’ve actually seen one. You’re the only person to have faced a high-ranking Incubo and lived.”

“Then what kind of power does the core contain?”

“I’ve heard rumors, but until you understand it yourself, you won’t be able to use it.”

The exact same words the demon had said.

“But I might be able to help you a little. If you truly wish to learn more, you should go north—to the borderlands.”

“Do you think this core will be of use to me, Your Majesty?”

The northern border… the frozen land of snow and storms. There was a chance I might encounter more Incubos there. Was it really worth that risk?

“If what I’ve heard is true, it will become a great source of power for you.”

Ah… I really didn’t want to go. But it seemed I had to.

“Fortunately, a royal unit is scheduled to be dispatched there in a month. How about joining them?”

That would certainly make me feel safer.

“If it’s not too much trouble, I’d be glad to go with them.”

“If you’re coming, I’ll have to adjust the deployment list—but I’d prefer it that way.”

“Thank you for your consideration.”

The Emperor smiled, his impossibly handsome face dazzling to look at.

“Then, I look forward to being with you in a month.”

“You mean… you’ll be going on this expedition yourself, Your Majesty?”

The Emperor of Baekryeong, the one who personally bestowed divine blessings, had never once left the capital. Whenever he even hinted at leaving, the citizens panicked.

But the Emperor simply shook his head.

“Officially, I’ll be here, guarding the Imperial Palace.”

Then unofficially… are you saying you’ll go in secret?

“There are ways to handle these things. You needn’t know all the details.”

His expression turned so sly that I choked on my tea.

From early morning, I had been taking magic lessons in the underground training hall of Duke Benvolio’s mansion, under the supervision of Mor—the Imperial Court Magus. Of course, Q was with me.

While the Emperor was asleep, the Empire had been in such crisis that even novice magicians like Q and me had been mobilized.

It was no surprise Mor had been impossibly busy, and only now could we resume lessons.

Beside me, Q cheered with exaggerated enthusiasm.

“Go, my lady, go! Peaaaarl-shiiined noble lady!”

“Q! You’re making it harder to focus!”

I grumbled, keeping my eyes fixed on the orb of magic forming at my fingertips.

“Lady Asha, you must be able to concentrate regardless of your surroundings,” Mor chided gently.

Q only grew louder, clearly delighted that Mor wasn’t scolding him.

I frowned but tried to focus again. Today’s goal was to launch the magic orb instead of just forming it.

“Now—do it!” Mor shouted.

I cast the spell.

“Mitente!”

But instead of flying forward, my gray magic orb simply dropped from my hand and vanished.

Haah… this was harder than I thought.

“You must visualize your target clearly. Again.”

Mor smiled with that same infuriatingly calm grin.

Not a single word of comfort for my failure!

Knowing that smile was just a mask made him seem even stricter.

Meanwhile, Q’s antics continued.

“Peaaaarl-shiiined noble lady! You can dooo it!”

Master, your student appears to be terminally bored.

Now he was even dancing in rhythm with his own chant.

His antics were more irritating than motivating.

Ugh, I’d love to set his hair on fire.

Refocusing my energy, I built the magic orb again and cast the spell when Mor signaled.

“Mitente!”

This time, the orb floated above my palm—then shot straight toward Q.

His face went pale. He screamed as it hit him squarely on the head, and his yellow hair caught fire.

“AAAAAAH!”

I froze, horrified, while Mor quickly muttered a silent incantation. A stream of water burst from his hand, dousing Q.

The result: a singed but soggy Q, looking like a drenched mouse.

“My lady… that was so mean! Do you really hate me that much? I was just cheering you on!”

He was nearly in tears.

“I swear, it wasn’t on purpose, Q. I’m sorry.”

Well… not completely unintentional, but still.

When I apologized, he smiled again, his gentle nature quickly resurfacing. That’s when Mor broke our heartwarming moment.

“Qury, dry yourself off. You’re good with water magic—combine it with wind magic.”

“You mean… mix the formulas of two elements?”

The two of them then launched into a discussion I couldn’t follow at all, until Q’s gray eyes gleamed.

He began muttering an incantation, and a light breeze swept over him, evaporating the water in an instant.

“Wow, Q! That’s amazing!”

I clapped like a delighted seal, and Q flushed with shy pride.

Mor’s gaze returned to me.

“Lady Asha, you’ll have to work just as hard.”

He was smiling, but his scarlet eyes looked ready to kill someone in training today. A shiver ran down my spine.

Our grueling practice continued long into the evening.

At last, by sunset, Q and I were freed from Mor’s lessons.

Every muscle in my body ached. Lying flat on my bed, I recalled what Mor had said before we parted.

“My lady, the reason I pushed you so hard today was for your own sake. You’ll be heading to the northern border soon.”

So he had been worried about me.

“His Majesty told you?”

“Yes. I’ll be going too.”

As the Imperial Magus, it made sense that he would. I nodded, and he smiled apologetically.

“I was greedy today because I believe in your potential. Honestly, what you accomplished would be impossible for most beginners.”

So that’s why Q had been looking at me with such awe all day.

Mor’s eyes held genuine warmth, and it made my chest feel strangely soft.

“Besides, you succeeded in launching the orb by the end. You’re improving at an incredible pace, Lady Asha.”

“That’s all thanks to having such a great teacher.”

I smiled playfully, and his crimson eyes softened even more.

“As your teacher, may I be a bit more ambitious?”

“How so?”

“Magic comes from focus, and focus comes from stamina. Before we depart, I’d like to help strengthen your body a bit more.”

His expression was earnest—he truly wanted me to agree.

It made sense; though he’d never mentioned it, he must have noticed how weak my endurance was every time I cast spells.